What Is Pickleball? A Beginner’s Guide to Rules, Scoring and How to Play

Pickleball is a fast-paced paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is easy to learn, highly social and can provide an excellent workout. You can play singles or doubles, indoors or outdoors, casually with friends or competitively in leagues and tournaments.

The basic idea is simple: hit a perforated plastic ball over a net and keep it in play longer than your opponent. The smaller court makes pickleball approachable for beginners, while dinks, drops, volleys and lightning-fast hands battles give experienced players plenty to master.

If you hear unfamiliar words as you get started, keep our pickleball terms glossary handy. You will quickly learn that a dink is a shot, an Erne is a move and the kitchen contains no snacks whatsoever.

Pickleball at a Glance

The game is played on a 20-by-44-foot court.
The court dimensions are the same for singles and doubles.
The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.
There is a seven-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net called the kitchen.
Players use a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball.
Games are normally played to 11 points, and the winner must lead by two.
The serve travels diagonally into the opposite service court.
The serve and return must each bounce before either team may volley.

You do not need to memorize everything before playing. Most beginners learn enough to start a game within a few minutes. Scoring may require a few more explanations, especially when someone casually announces 0-0-2 as if that is perfectly normal.

A Short History of Pickleball

Pickleball began in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell returned from a round of golf and found their families looking for something to do. They began experimenting on an old badminton court using table-tennis paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

Barney McCallum soon joined them, and the three men continued developing the equipment and rules. What began as a homemade family game eventually became one of the most popular recreational sports in the United States.

Was Pickleball Named After a Dog?

You may have heard that pickleball was named after the Pritchard family dog, Pickles. It is a great story, but the historical evidence points in a different direction.

According to USA Pickleball’s history of the name, Joan Pritchard called the sport “pickle ball” after the pickle boat in crew, which was traditionally made up of leftover rowers from other boats. The family dog arrived later and was named after the game.

Pickles still received decades of free publicity, so it worked out pretty well for the dog.

How Pickleball Is Played

Every rally begins with a serve hit diagonally across the court. The receiving team must let the serve bounce once before returning it. The serving team must then let that return bounce before hitting it back.

Once those two required bounces have occurred, either team can volley the ball out of the air or play it after one bounce. The rally continues until a player commits a fault, such as hitting the ball into the net, sending it out of bounds or allowing it to bounce twice.

The Basic Rally Sequence

The server hits the ball diagonally into the correct service court.
The receiver lets the serve bounce and returns it.
The serving team lets the return bounce before hitting the third shot.
Both teams may now volley or play the ball after one bounce.
The rally continues until someone commits a fault.

A useful beginner phrase is “serve and stay, return and run.” The serving team generally remains near the baseline so the return can bounce. The receiver returns the serve and moves forward to join their partner near the kitchen line.

The Six Basic Pickleball Rules Beginners Need

1. The Serve Must Be Legal

Pickleball allows two main types of serves: the volley serve and the drop serve.

For a volley serve, the paddle must move in an upward arc, the ball must be contacted at or below the waist, and the highest part of the paddle head cannot be above the wrist at contact.

For a drop serve, the player releases the ball from a natural height without throwing or forcing it downward. The serve is then hit after the ball bounces. The waist, paddle-head and upward-arc restrictions do not apply to a legal drop serve.

2. Follow the Two-Bounce Rule

The receiving team must let the serve bounce. The serving team must then let the return bounce. After those two required bounces, either team may volley the ball or hit it after one bounce.

The name sometimes confuses beginners. The ball does not bounce twice on one side. There are two total required bounces, one on each side.

3. Respect the Kitchen

You cannot hit a volley while standing inside the seven-foot kitchen or touching one of its boundary lines. Your momentum also cannot carry you into the kitchen after a volley, even if the ball is already dead.

You may enter the kitchen to hit a ball after it bounces. After stepping into the kitchen, both feet must be reestablished completely outside the zone before you may volley again.

4. Return the Ball Before It Bounces Twice

During a standard rally, the ball may bounce only once on your side. If it bounces a second time before you return it, you lose the rally.

5. Understand In and Out Calls

A ball touching any court boundary line is considered in. The important exception occurs on the serve. A serve touching the kitchen line is out because the serve must completely clear the non-volley zone.

During recreational play, players make line calls on their own side of the court. If you cannot clearly see space between the ball and the line, the ball should be considered in.

6. A Serve Can Touch the Net

If a serve clips the net and lands in the proper service court beyond the kitchen line, the ball remains live and should be returned. The serve is not replayed simply because it touched the net.

For a deeper explanation, read our complete guide to pickleball rules for beginners.

Pickleball Court Layout

A standard pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. The dimensions remain the same for singles and doubles.

The net stands 36 inches high at the sidelines and dips to 34 inches in the center. Each side of the court includes a baseline, two sidelines, right and left service courts and a seven-foot kitchen adjacent to the net.

Baseline

The baseline runs across the back of the court. The serve is initiated from behind this line and between the imaginary extensions of the centerline and sideline.

Service Courts

The centerline divides the area behind the kitchen into right and left service courts. The serve must travel diagonally into the service court opposite the server.

Kitchen or Non-Volley Zone

The kitchen extends seven feet from the net on both sides. Its official name is the non-volley zone, commonly abbreviated as NVZ.

The kitchen prevents players from standing directly over the net and smashing every ball downward. This creates the softer dinking game and much of the strategy that makes pickleball different from tennis.

Pickleball Paddles, Balls and Shoes

You do not need a trunk full of equipment to begin playing. A paddle, a ball and supportive court shoes will get you through your first game.

Pickleball Paddle

A pickleball paddle is larger than a ping-pong paddle but smaller than a tennis racquet. Modern paddles are commonly made with composite materials and designed to provide different combinations of power, control and spin.

Beginners do not need the most expensive paddle available. Comfort, grip size, weight and a forgiving hitting surface matter more during your first few games.

If you are not sure what to buy, check out our 2026 pickleball paddle guide.

Indoor and Outdoor Pickleballs

Indoor pickleballs typically have fewer, larger holes and are made from slightly softer plastic. Outdoor balls generally have more, smaller holes and use harder plastic to handle wind and rougher court surfaces.

The exact number and size of the holes can vary by ball, so think of these as general differences rather than an absolute rule.

Court Shoes

Tennis, pickleball and other court shoes are designed to support side-to-side movement. Running shoes are made primarily for forward movement and may feel less stable during quick lateral changes of direction.

You do not need pickleball-branded shoes for your first casual game, but supportive court shoes can improve traction and stability as you begin playing more regularly.

Does Tournament Approval Matter?

Official paddle and ball approval matters primarily if you plan to participate in sanctioned tournaments or competitive leagues that require approved equipment. Most recreational players can begin with an affordable paddle or borrow one from a club, recreation center or friend.

Common Pickleball Shots

Pickleball includes hard drives, soft shots and just about everything in between. Beginners do not need to master every shot immediately, but understanding the basic names will make lessons and partner communication easier.

Serve

The shot that begins each rally. The goal for most beginners is simple: hit a deep, reliable serve that lands in the correct service court.

Return of Serve

The receiving team’s first shot. A deep return helps keep the serving team near the baseline and gives the receiver time to move toward the kitchen line.

Drive

A hard groundstroke hit after the ball bounces. Drives are used to pressure opponents, attack open space or force a weak volley.

Dink

A soft shot hit after a bounce from near the kitchen line. A good dink lands in the opponent’s kitchen and stays low enough to prevent an aggressive attack.

Drop Shot

A soft shot hit from deeper in the court that lands in the opponent’s kitchen. The third-shot drop is one of the most important shots for helping the serving team advance toward the net.

Volley

A ball hit out of the air before it bounces. Volleys are commonly played near the kitchen line after the two-bounce rule has been satisfied.

Reset

A defensive shot that absorbs an opponent’s pace and drops the ball softly into the kitchen. Resets help a team slow down a fast rally and regain a neutral position.

Lob and Overhead

A lob is hit high over an opponent’s head to force them away from the kitchen line. An overhead is the powerful overhand shot commonly used to attack a lob.

You can find more shot names, strategy phrases and recreational slang in our pickleball glossary.

How Pickleball Scoring Works

Most recreational games use traditional side-out scoring. Only the serving team can score a point. The receiving team can win a rally, but doing so wins the serve rather than a point.

Games are normally played to 11 points, and the winner must lead by at least two. Tournament games may also be played to 15 or 21.

How to Call the Score in Doubles

The score is announced using three numbers:

The serving team’s score
The receiving team’s score
The server number, either one or two

A score of 6-4-2 means the serving team has six points, the receiving team has four points and the team’s second server is serving.

Why Does a Game Begin at 0-0-2?

In doubles, both partners normally have an opportunity to serve before a side out. The first team serving at the beginning of the game receives only one service turn.

The opening server is therefore designated as server number two. When that player loses the serve, service immediately transfers to the opponents. That is why the game begins at 0-0-2.

First Server, Second Server and Side Outs

After a normal side out, the player positioned on the right becomes the first server. That player continues serving and changes sides after every point won.

When the first server loses a rally, the serve passes to the partner. When the second server loses a rally, a side out occurs and the opponents begin serving.

Rally Scoring

Some leagues and tournaments use rally scoring. With rally scoring, the team winning each rally earns a point regardless of who served.

USA Pickleball currently recognizes rally scoring as an optional provisional format. Because different events may use different scoring systems, confirm the format before beginning.

Singles Versus Doubles

Pickleball is most commonly played as doubles. Doubles requires teamwork, communication and coordinated positioning with your partner. It also produces more dinking, volley exchanges and kitchen-line strategy.

Singles uses the same court dimensions but requires one player to cover the entire court. This creates more running, passing shots and open space. Singles is generally more physically demanding, while doubles is usually the more social and beginner-friendly format.

Pickleball Versus Tennis

While the sports look similar, there are several important differences:

Pickleball uses a much smaller court.
Pickleball uses a solid paddle instead of a strung racquet.
The pickleball is plastic and perforated rather than felt-covered and pressurized.
Pickleball uses an underhand-style serve rather than a powerful overhead serve.
Pickleball features the kitchen, which prevents volleying directly beside the net.
The same court boundaries are used for pickleball singles and doubles.
Pickleball usually requires less court coverage, especially in doubles, but places greater emphasis on quick reactions and controlled soft shots.

Is Pickleball Easier Than Tennis?

Pickleball is generally easier to begin. The court is smaller, the serve is more approachable and new players can often sustain short rallies during their first session.

That does not mean advanced pickleball is easy. As players improve, the sport becomes faster and more strategic. Controlling dinks, resetting hard drives, disguising attacks and reacting during rapid volley exchanges require considerable skill.

Pickleball is easy to learn and wonderfully difficult to master, which is how the phrase “one more game” turns into another hour on the court.

Why Pickleball Is So Popular

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, more than 24 million Americans played pickleball in 2025. The organization has identified it as the fastest-growing sport in the United States for five consecutive years.

Beginners Can Play Quickly

New players can understand the basic rules and begin having fun during their first session. The early learning curve is forgiving enough to feel welcoming.

It Is Social

Doubles partners communicate throughout the game, and open play regularly rotates players and opponents. This makes it easy to meet people without organizing a complete group in advance.

It Works at Different Levels

Players can enjoy relaxed recreational games, join organized leagues, track skill ratings or travel for tournaments. The same sport can be a casual weekend activity or a serious competitive pursuit.

Different Ages Can Play Together

The smaller court and adjustable pace allow players from different generations and athletic backgrounds to share the court. Good positioning and anticipation can often compete with speed and power.

There Is Always Something New to Learn

Beginners focus on serving and keeping score. Intermediate players discover drops, resets and stacking. Advanced players discuss shot patterns, spin and paddle technology in a level of detail normally reserved for financial planning.

What to Expect at Your First Open-Play Session

Open play is a scheduled session where players rotate partners and opponents. Some sessions welcome all abilities, while others are organized by skill level.

Many facilities use a paddle rack or paddle stack. You place your paddle into the next available position, and the next group takes the court when the current game ends.

Look for sessions labeled beginner, social, recreational or approximately 2.5 to 3.0. Advanced open play is not the ideal place to learn 0-0-2 while several people are firing drives at your shoelaces.

Basic Pickleball Etiquette

Call the complete score clearly before serving.
Make honest line calls and give close calls to your opponent.
Wait until play stops before walking behind or across an active court.
Call “ball on court” if a stray ball creates a safety concern.
Use “mine,” “yours” or “bounce it” to communicate with your partner.
Avoid giving unsolicited instruction after every rally.
Tap paddles, shake hands or exchange another friendly gesture after the game.

Your first game will probably include missed serves, scoring confusion and several balls hit directly into the net. Every experienced player started in exactly the same place.

How to Start Playing Pickleball in Minnesota

The best way to learn is simply getting on the court. Minnesota offers public outdoor courts, community recreation programs, lessons, leagues and dedicated indoor clubs throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

Outdoor play is popular during the warmer months. When winter arrives, and it always arrives, players move into recreation centers and dedicated indoor pickleball facilities.

Find a Court

Use our Minnesota map of pickleball courts or browse our pickleball courts and clubs directory to find a location near you.

Attend Beginner Open Play

Look for a beginner-friendly session where players can help explain scoring, positioning and the facility’s court rotation system.

Take a Lesson

A single introductory lesson can help you understand serving, scoring, court positioning and safe movement. Visit our pickleball tips and lessons page for instructional resources.

Borrow or Rent a Paddle

Many clubs, recreation centers and instructors provide loaner paddles. Trying a few models can help you determine which weight and grip size feel comfortable.

Practice With a Friend

You do not need four players to improve. One partner and an open court are enough to practice serves, returns, dinks and drops. Start with our guide to the best pickleball drills for two players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Stand in the Kitchen?

Yes. You can stand in the kitchen and hit a ball after it bounces. You cannot volley while touching the kitchen or its boundary lines, and your momentum cannot carry you into the kitchen after a volley.

Can the Ball Bounce in the Kitchen?

Yes. The kitchen is a non-volley zone, not a no-bounce zone. Dinks and drop shots are intentionally designed to bounce inside the kitchen.

How Many People Play Pickleball?

You need two players for singles or four players for doubles. Doubles is the most common format for recreational open play.

How Long Does a Pickleball Game Take?

A recreational game to 11 often takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes. The exact length depends on player level, rally length and how far the score continues beyond 11 before one team wins by two.

Do You Need Special Shoes?

You do not need pickleball-branded shoes for your first game, but tennis or court shoes with strong lateral support are recommended as you begin playing regularly.

Can a Serve Touch the Net?

Yes. If a serve touches the net and lands in the proper service court beyond the kitchen line, the ball remains live and play continues.

Can You Play Pickleball on a Tennis Court?

Yes. Temporary pickleball lines and a portable net can be placed on a tennis court. Some shared facilities add permanent pickleball lines and lower the tennis net, although a properly positioned pickleball net provides the best setup.

Is Pickleball Good Exercise?

Pickleball can provide cardiovascular activity while training balance, coordination, reaction time and side-to-side movement. The intensity varies considerably between relaxed recreational doubles and competitive singles.

Is Pickleball Only for Older Adults?

No. Pickleball is played by children, college students, working adults, retirees and professional athletes. Its growth includes participants across a wide range of ages.

Is Pickleball Expensive?

It can be relatively inexpensive to begin. Public courts may be free, and paddles can often be borrowed or rented. Costs increase if you join a private club, purchase premium equipment, take lessons or enter tournaments.

Ready to Start Playing?

Pickleball is simple enough to begin today and strategic enough to keep challenging you for years. Learn the basic rules, borrow a paddle, find a beginner-friendly court and let the other players know it is your first time.

You will miss a few serves. You will forget the score. You may celebrate a winning volley moments before your momentum carries you directly into the kitchen. Every experienced player has been there.

Start by exploring our Minnesota pickleball court map, review the beginner pickleball rules and find a game that matches your experience level.

Welcome to pickleball. We hope you enjoy saying “one more game” for the rest of the afternoon.